Tuberculosis (TB)

What is tuberculosis?	Tuberculosis, or TB, is a communicable disease spread from person-to- person through the air. It generally affects the lungs, but can affect the brain, kidneys and spine. There are two different forms of TB: latent TB and active TB disease. Latent TB - People with latent TB have, but cannot spread the germs that cause TB, but may develop the disease in the future. Active TB disease - The opposite of latent TB, because the germs are active and destroying tissue, and they can spread the disease to others. TB is deadly if not treated. TB in the body in an other part than the lungs or larynx is not able to be spread to other people
What are the symptoms of tuberculosis?	Symptoms of TB depend on what part of the body is being affected. The general symptoms of active TB disease include: feeling sick or weak, night sweats, fever, chills and weight loss. The symptoms of active TB disease in the lungs include: a cough lasting longer than two weeks, chest pain and coughing up blood or sputum (phlegm from deep inside the lungs).
How is tuberculosis spread?	TB of the lungs (pulmonary) is spread from human-to-human through the air when a person with TB germs coughs, sneezes, speaks or sings. The bacteria that cause TB can stay in the air for hours. People who contract TB generally get it from breathing in air contaminated with the bacteria.
How can I keep from getting tuberculosis?	Limiting exposure to individuals with active TB disease can reduce your chances of contracting TB.
Who is at risk of getting tuberculosis?	Anyone can get TB; however, certain people have a greater risk for developing it. People with HIV, a weakened immune system, babies and young children, the elderly and people who inject drugs have a higher risk of developing TB.
If I’ve been exposed to tuberculosis, how long will it take for symptoms to develop?	The initial symptoms of TB can occur at any point after exposure. People exposed to TB often do not develop active TB disease, but once you have been infected with the bacteria, TB disease can develop months, even years after the initial infection.
Who should be tested for tuberculosis? How does it work?	You should be tested for TB if: You are from a country where active TB disease is very common (most countries in Latin America and the Caribbean, Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe, and Russia) You live in a situation where active TB disease is more common, such as a homeless shelter, migrant farm camp, prison or jail, and some nursing homes You inject illegal drugs You have spent time with a person known to have active TB disease or suspected to have active TB disease You have HIV infection or another condition that puts you at high risk for active TB disease You think you might have active TB disease There are two common test methods for TB: a skin test and a blood test. The skin test can be administered by your health care provider or at the health department. A small amount of testing fluid is injected under the skin on your lower arm. After two or three days, the amount of swelling is measured. The health care worker can determine by the amount of swelling if you have developed TB. The blood test, which is not readily available, measures your blood’s response to TB proteins to determine if you have been infected.
What treatment options are available for tuberculosis?	Currently, there are treatment options for latent and active tuberculosis disease. People who test positive for TB infection may take medications for six to nine months to keep them from developing TB disease. It is important that people being treated for TB take all of their medication. Drug-resistant strains of TB develop when people with active TB disease do not take their medicine as prescribed and the bacteria develop a resistance to the drug. Drug-resistant TB is a very serious problem and very expensive and difficult to treat.
How deadly is tuberculosis?	TB is very deadly with a mortality rate of greater than 50 percent if left untreated. Approximately 2 million people worldwide die from TB every year.
Where is tuberculosis found?	TB is found worldwide.
How many cases of tuberculosis have been reported in Kentucky?	Four cases of TB were reported in Northern Kentucky in 2010.  Approximately 22,000 cases are reported each year in the United States. Also, 10 million to 15 million people in the United States are infected with TB and could develop TB disease in the future.
Where can I get more information on tuberculosis?	For more information online, you can visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Web site at http://www.cdc.gov/tb/. Or, for more information on the Health Department’s programs, please call Epidemiology Services at 859.363.2070.